William "Bill" Bruce

I believe it was 1980 when I conducted a phone interview with a very nice gentleman in Ontario named Bruce, William for a role in The City's Traffic Operations Division. I called him Bruce throughout our interview. He did not correct me once! When I called him back to offer him the position, he accepted immediately but kindly requested that I call him Bill in the future. I was so embarassed but Bill graciously offered: "please don't be Mr. Griffiths--people have called me Bruce all my life." Such was my awkward beginning of a great relationship throughout our long and varied careers with The City.

We were all so well served by Bill's dedicated and caring service to the citizens of Calgary in his many years as Chief of Animal and Bylaw services. He inspired and led significant change within his department and was so proud of his team and the services they provided. Although he had just left prior to our devastating flood of 2013, in my role as Director of Waste & Recycling Services, I was able to bear witness to, and lean on his deeply routed legacy of community relations that his team had established throughout Calgary. In the immediate aftermath and through many months of helping our citizens to clean up and recover from the devastation, Bill's team were constantly on the front lines helping with the recovery and co-ordination of volunteers who came from every corner of our city.

To Pat and your family, I know you will take much comfort in recalling all of the outlandish and original "Bill-isms" that he would spring on us out of the blue. He was a gentleman of great dedication to his career, community and family.

Bill was an absolute gem. I first met him in the 1990s when I was working with the Hillhurst Sunnyside Community Association. A resident, Elizabeth, had run into hard times (she was an obsessive collector which included dozens of Pomeranians) and the situation had become unsafe and quite dire. When Bill was informed of the situation, rather than deeming the property uninhabitable he contacted the community for help. After moving Elizabeth to temporary housing, Bill supervised a complete gutting and revamp of the house. Volunteers from across the community installed plumbing, heating and electricity, brought in new furniture and even made flowery curtains for all the windows. When Elizabeth was able to return home, Bill brought back two neutered Pomeranians as a welcome gift. But it didn't end there. Bill would check on Elizabeth from time to time to ensure all was well and the community organized meal schedules and wellness checks until Elizabeth's passing years later. It remains one of my proudest moments, so see what a community can accomplish when we work together with kindness.

After I was elected, I got to experience Bill's work from the inside. He would drop by the Aldermanic Office often, with a smuggled puppy in his coat or a photo of a kitten. The communities loved him and even councillors from other cities would talk about "Bylaw Bill" and his unique approach to Animal and Bylaw Services. Who else could take thorny issues and neighbour disputes and turn them into opportunities to solve problems together and have fun while doing it?! To all who knew and loved Bill, my sincere condolences. I feel blessed to have worked with him.

My sincere condolences, Pat & Andrew & young Michael. I worked with Bill during the design of the Community Standards Bylaw consultations & analysis & development of the City’s Engage! policy and program at the turn of the century, enjoyed dinner at your home, and shared years together as ‘tarpies’ at the Calgary Folk Music Festival (& Bill was instrumental in improving the City’s relationship with the festival.) Bill & I shared an enthusiasm for interest-based conflict resolution. He had great insights and an admirable ability to figure out uncommon ‘common-sense’ solutions to problems, and his advice became much sought-after by other cities. In my work overseas, where compliance strategies were less understood than enforcement ones, I told (aka bragged) about Bill’s creative solutions to achieve compliance for the common good, ranging from bicycle bells to lost pets to downtown encampments. He made a great contribution to the quality of life here, on a personal as well as professional level. It was a delight and a privileged to know him. Rest in peace, old friend.

Pat, I am sad for the passing of your dear husband and friend. Your family will be in my prayers and fond memories of being friends and longtime neighbors. Bill was always so giving and ready to help with a project. I appreciate the good friends you were to me.

It was a pleasure getting to know Bill: I think we talked the most when we were on bus excursions. He will be missed by everyone at the FLC Camera Club.

I was fortunate to have hired Bill when he arrived in Calgary. Bill quickly rose from an engineering technician in Traffic Operations to my administration assistant handling endless traffic related complaints. We became close friends with both Pat and Bill. After my retirement, Bill would drop by our home in Invermere where he helped another close friend of his fix up a cabin. Bill was knowledgeable and talented in so many fields. He made my life easier at work and I’m forever grateful to him.
As I’m writing this tribute, I’m looking at the beautiful carved duck he gave me years ago. His life touched so many people and will be missed by all.

My knowing of Bill came on the last page of his life. Even so, he left a deep and unmistakable impression as a decent human being. I was very sad to hear of his passing. Condolences to his wife, Pat, and all of his family.

My sincere Condolences to Pat (Trish) and Family. Bill and I worked on various projects while with the Transportation Department through the 80s including the 1988 Olympics. When I adopted a couple of dogs from Animal Services, Bill was there to help the process along. Bill was a true professional. had a great sense of humor and a skilled craftsman. Bill will be truly missed. My deepest sympathy Pat, Andrew and grandson Michael.

I had the privilege of working with Bill during his years in Traffic Operations. Always cared about providing value to tax payers and innovative solutions to traffic engineering problems. Always quick with a joke or a story, he was also a very talented wood worker and luthier. We will miss him at our regular retiree luncheons. RIP Bill.

Our time at the City of Calgary overlapped during the 1990’s, where I saw Bill migrate from traffic ops to the City Commissioners’ office to bylaw and animal control. He relished his broad opportunity to make changes in the “pedestrian” world of bylaw services. In addition to bringing a compliance focus to that role, he presided over the creation of a consolidated “Community Standards Bylaw”, which drew together many of the day to day matters that sometimes plague us - noise, drainage, dust, and other nuisances - and wrapped them into the notion that we all have to respect one another when we live in close proximity. RIP Bill Bruce.

RIP Bill, you will be missed.

My deepest condolences to Pat and family. Bill was a guiding light in our photography club and will be missed greatly.

Enjoyed every minute with Bill at camera club.

Pat, I knew you and Bill thru volunteering. My condolences to you and your family on his passing.
Marg Partridge

Bill was a gentle giant. I knew him both in my professional capacity and personally. Truly one of the iconic civil servants. Condolences to Pat and his family.

Our career paths crossed soon after Bill arrived in Calgary. He always had good stories to tell and great advice.

My deepest sympathy and condolences to Bill’s family. I had the honour and pleasure to work alongside Bill for a small part of his career with the City. This City benefited so much from his service and I was able to assist him in delivering some of his solutions to issues in my communities. I will miss him but I will never forget him because of how he enriched my life and the lives of all Calgarians through his service.

Bill was a great guy. We worked with Bill a lot during my term of office. He was respectful, responsive and always eager to help Calgarians. We had many discussions about ‘the neibour from hell’ and how we might tweek or change by-laws to protect others. I really liked working with him. He made me laugh and he always made me look better.
My deepest condolences to his family and many friends.

Bill was a friend and great boss, he was more than a great boss he was a man who had my respect and a man who displayed genuine kindness and strong leadership skills. It is time to say goodbye Bill and thank you for embodying core values with such passion and enthusiasm. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your loved ones.
Bill, you’re going to enjoy fishing in heaven, where the lakes are clear and the bites are plenty.

Very sad to hear of Bill's passing. I was fortunate enough to work alongside Bill in the Transportation dept at the City of Calgary. Bill was a catalyst regarding his dedication to hard work and equally enjoyable moments and good fun, all to bring the crew together. Wishing the family the peace and comfort in knowing his time here will be cherished by many.

RIP Bill, I remember how you were always available for a story and it was always time well spent. A great guy who will be missed.

Bill was an excellent man. We would strategize about how to build civil society, through respect and tolerance, always with an eye on tomorrow. He was an extremely effective leader because of is unique authenticity. I will miss him.

I learned a lot from Bill. Professionally the benefit of being available to the media, and personally ~80 interesting facts about wildlife, traveling, photography, and how 311's rollout was timed in honour of his birthday :)

Pat, thank you for sharing him with us. Sending the biggest hug.

Bye Bylaw Bill... RIP... You did good. Thanks

So sorry to hear this. I had the privilege of working for Bylaw Bill for several years. He was a caring person and a great boss - he always took the time to talk and listen no matter how busy he was.

There was never a dull day working with Bylaw Bill! He will live on in all the stories we share. Rest easy, friend. All the love to the family!

So sorry to hear of Bill’s passing.
I had the pleasure of working with Bill many years ago.
Sending condolences to his family and friends.

It was a pleasure working with Bill. I met him on a cold call helping him Brand Animal band Bylaw Services. He was a great guy, that always made time to see me or say Hi, when at the Animal Services. He then help arrange a community cleanup and education for neighbors that had infractions. May you Rest in Peace

A true gentleman and a career public servant that served Calgarians with great distinction. He provided with so much advice when I was on Council. He played a key role behind the scenes, especially on public safety solutions with a velvet glove. RIP Bill.

Bylaw Bill was legendary among journalists. Always ready to answer the phone, he embodied transparency and fiercely dedicated his life to public service. But he wasn't just a career bureaucrat. He also innovated, and found ways to improve a core city department. I have nothing but respect for the man. Condolences to his family.

Worked with Bill at City of Calgary together as Executive Assistants to Commissioners and as Directors in the Community Services Department. He was a fine man, and a supportive & insightful colleague. Enjoyed being on the same team and finding creative solutions to problems for the betterment for community. My condolence Pat -and son Andrew and Grandson Michael. God Bless

I had the privilege of working with "Bylaw" Bill for many years at the City of Calgary. He was a loyal, dedicated and a good friend. I will miss him.

I worked with Bill for years. You could always count on Bill for sound judgement and leadership.

My absolute best to his family.

Bylaw Bill..
RIP...

Bill made Calgary a better place to live for people and animals alike. I always enjoyed his sense of humor, his enthusiasm to find solutions no matter the issues and the support he always gave to me. Fondly remembered and will never be forgotten.